Most people enjoy the feeling of air conditioning when it gets hot outside. Some people have a higher tolerance when it comes to their idea of what is hot. For those who live near the equator hot could be 90 degrees, whereas someone further north might think 70 degrees is hot. A lot of people think of AC as a comfort or luxury item, which it can be. But for some people, it is a matter of life or death.
In some regions of the world like Death Valley, California which has a record temperature of 56.7 (134°F) degrees or Aziziyah, Libya in which the temperature generally gets above 48°C (118°F) degrees in summer it is hard to live. Before air conditioning, humans survived high heat and humidity with protective shelters and limited their activity during the hottest parts of the day. Needing to stay in the shade and not work during the day limits the time they had to do various chores during the day and before the internet that could mean isolation for those who could not stand the heat. Though that is something people consider a comfort issue it also includes health issues.
Health
Medical issues like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration are some of the physical effects the heat can have on your body. It can even lead to extreme ailments like organ failure and possibly death in those in poor condition. Other health conditions that may need air conditioning include patients who can’t control their body temperature well like infants, the elderly, burn victims, and others. The WHO (World Health Organization) submitted a report that states the number of people who die of heatstroke could rise to a quarter of a million by 2050. That’s why many public places and healthcare facilities have air conditioning. They need to be assured their patron or patients aren’t going to become ill because the building is too hot. Air conditioners also improve the air quality by circulating the air and trapping dust particles, allergens, and other contaminants in the filters.
Work
It’s not just health that can be affected by the heat. In some areas of the world, people cannot work in the middle of the day because of the weather, and some work may decline or be affected by this. Some parts of Africa and Asia are facing up to a 12% decline in work hours because of heat stress, reports a Sustainable Energy for All report. Keeping specific supplies like food and medicine at particular temperatures is vital for storage, and intense heat and humidity can change even a home's structure over an extended period’s of time. In some areas of the world, government programs have sought to build public cooling centers for those without the device of their own. If there were no air conditioning in business, some people would go out of business because of how hot it is during business hours meaning not only could the employees not work but customers wouldn’t want to visit either. Air-conditioning makes it possible to create the centers that power businesses, the internet, and research. Boosting comfort in a commercial or business setting also increases productivity and reduce absenteeism. Overall air conditioning in business settings is sometimes crucial for the company itself.
Personal
While air conditioning at home may seem like a luxury, it is more valuable than you may think. Have you ever gone camping in a very hot or humid climate? How well did you sleep while sweaty and hot? Some chores in your home may be near impossible without the help of air conditioning. Like hanging clothes to dry, if it’s too hot or humid, it may not get thoroughly dry. Cooking is unbearable when you don’t even want to turn on the oven. Or also getting a good nights rest for the next day is hard when you keep tossing and turning trying to regulate your body temperature. Some public buildings like schools and colleges also benefit from air conditioning as the students can concentrate more easily. Even things like electronics are affected. Climate control also will also protect technological equipment by controlling humidity that can cause electricity to arc between circuits or possibly overheat. On that same note, it will preserve the building itself from the mold and other issues that high humidity over an extended period would create.Overall air conditioning keeps you fresh and comfortable, but more importantly, it helps regulate the human body temperature, filters out particles from the air, and prevents damage to your home and electronics from humidity. It is essential for both business use and personal use in areas of the world that see temperatures over 37.7° (100°F). With median temperatures rising across the globe each year more and more places are needing air conditioning to continue their way of life. Hopefully, as more countries become modernized and can access air conditioning, those affected by extreme temperatures will be safer. Getting a proper HVAC system is important, contacting a professional service like HVAC Direct can get you started in finding the correct unit for you.
